Method, system, and computer program product for automatically performing an operation in response to information

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, at least one information handling system receives an excerpt of information. In response to the excerpt, the information handling system performs at least one of the following operations: in an XML format, automatically storing the excerpt in a folder that is preselected by a first user, wherein the folder is accessible by one or more second users specified by the first user; and, in the XML format, automatically outputting the excerpt to one or more second users preselected by the first user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to PCT Application Serial No.PCT/US2005/013068, filed Apr. 18, 2005, by Andrew Thomas Busey, entitledMETHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SHARING INFORMATIONWITHIN A GLOBAL COMPUTER NETWORK, which: (a) is assigned to the assigneeof this application; (b) is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety; and (c) claims priority to the following U.S. ProvisionalPatent Applications, filed Apr. 20, 2004, by Andrew Thomas Busey, whichare assigned to the assignee of this application, and which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety: (i) U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/563,615, entitled METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTERPROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SAVING A SEARCH WITHIN A GLOBAL COMPUTER NETWORK;(ii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/563,705, entitledMETHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SHARING INFORMATIONWITHIN A GLOBAL COMPUTER NETWORK; (iii) U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/563,706, entitled METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAMPRODUCT FOR TRANSLATING INFORMATION FOR COMPATIBILITY WITH ANINFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM; (iv) U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/563,713, entitled METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FORAUTOMATICALLY PERFORMING AN OPERATION IN RESPONSE TO INFORMATION; and(v) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/563,719, entitled METHOD,SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SYNCHRONIZING INFORMATION WITHINA GLOBAL COMPUTER NETWORK.

Also, this application relates to the following co-pending U.S. PatentApplications, filed concurrently herewith, by Andrew Thomas Busey, whichare assigned to the assignee of this application, and which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety: (a) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______, entitled METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTERPROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SAVING A SEARCH WITHIN A GLOBAL COMPUTER NETWORK;(b) U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled METHOD, SYSTEM ANDCOMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SHARING INFORMATION WITHIN A GLOBALCOMPUTER NETWORK; (c) U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitledMETHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR TRANSLATING INFORMATIONFOR COMPATIBILITY WITH AN INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM; and (d) U.S.patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTERPROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SYNCHRONIZING INFORMATION WITHIN A GLOBAL COMPUTERNETWORK.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the illustrativeembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a representative information handlingsystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a is an illustration of a 1^(st) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 b is an illustration of a 2^(nd) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 c is an illustration of a 3^(rd) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 d is an illustration of a 4^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 e is an illustration of a 5^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 a is an illustration of a 6^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 b is an illustration of a 7^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 c is an illustration of an 8^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 d is an illustration of a 9^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 e is an illustration of a 10^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 f is an illustration of an 11^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 g is an illustration of a 12^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 h is an illustration of a 13^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 i is an illustration of a 14^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 a is an illustration of a 15^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 b is an illustration of a 16^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 a is an illustration of a 17^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 b is an illustration of an 18^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 c is an illustration of a 19^(th) screen displayed by a displaydevice of a representative client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a database table of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system, indicated generally at 100according to the illustrative embodiment. The system 100 includes: (a)clients 102, 104, and 106 and (b) server 108, each for executing serverprocesses as discussed further below in connection with FIGS. 3-7. Thesystem 100 also includes a global computer network 110, such as aTransport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) network (e.g.,the Internet or an intranet). In the following discussion, if a featureof system 100 is discussed in relation to the Internet, then suchfeature is likewise applicable to an intranet.

Each of the clients 102, 104, and 106, and the server 108 includes arespective network interface for communicating with the network 110(e.g., outputting information to and, and receiving information from,the network 110), such as by transferring information (e.g.,instructions, data, signals) between such client and the network 110.Accordingly, through the network 110, the server 108 communicates withthe clients 102, 104, and 106, and vice versa.

For clarity, FIG. 1 depicts only three clients 102, 104, and 106although the system 100 may include additional clients which aresubstantially identical to one another. Likewise, for clarity, FIG. 1depicts only one server 108, although the system 100 may includeadditional servers which are substantially identical to one another. Inthe discussion below, the client 102 is a representative one of theclients 102, 104, and 106. However, in an alternative embodiment, anyone or more of clients 102, 104 and 106 is a handheld device, such as amobile telephone, which is a portable type of information handlingsystem.

Each of the clients 102, 104, and 106, the server 108, and the network110 is a respective information handling system (“IHS”) for executingprocesses and performing operations (e.g., processing and communicatinginformation) in response thereto, as discussed further below inconnection with FIGS. 2-5. Each such IHS is formed by various electroniccircuitry components. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, all such IHSs arecoupled to one another. Accordingly, the clients 102, 104, and 106, andthe servers 108 operate within the network 112.

In FIG. 1, any one or more of the clients 102, 104, and 106 and/or theserver 108 is equipped so that a user (e.g., a user of the client 102)is able to selectively share a resource (e.g., information, or source ordestination of information) within the network 110 with one or moreusers. A webpage is one example of such a resource, such as: (a) awebpage created (e.g., “published”) or edited by the user and/or byanother user; or (b) any other generally addressable webpage (e.g., anywebpage accessed through the global Internet).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a representative one of the IHSs of FIG. 1.Such representative IHS is indicated by dashed enclosure 200. In theillustrative embodiment, each IHS of FIG. 1 operates in association witha respective human user. Accordingly, in the example of FIG. 2, the IHS200 operates in association with a human user 202, as discussed furtherhereinbelow.

As shown in FIG. 2, the IHS 200 includes (a) a computer 204 forexecuting and otherwise processing instructions, (b) input devices 206for receiving information from human user 202, (c) a display device 208(e.g., a conventional electronic cathode ray tube (“CRT”) device) fordisplaying information to user 202, (d) a print device 210 (e.g., aconventional electronic printer or plotter) for printing visual images(e.g., textual and graphic information) on paper, (e) a nonvolatilestorage device 211 (e.g., a hard disk drive or other computer-readablemedium (or apparatus), as discussed further hereinbelow) for storinginformation, (f) a computer-readable medium (or apparatus) 212 (e.g., aportable floppy diskette) for storing information, and (g) various otherelectronic circuitry for performing other operations of the IHS 200.

For example, the computer 204 includes: (a) a network interface (e.g.,circuitry) for communicating between the computer 204 and the network110; and (b) a memory device (e.g., random access memory (“RAM”) deviceand read only memory (“ROM”) device) for storing information (e.g.,instructions executed by computer 204 and data operated upon by computer204 in response to such instructions). Accordingly, the computer 204 isconnected to the network 110, the input devices 206, the display device208, the print device 210, the storage device 211, and thecomputer-readable medium 212, as shown in FIG. 2. The computer 204executes various software programs, such as an operating system and aweb browser (as discussed further hereinbelow).

For example, in response to signals from the computer 204, the displaydevice 208 displays visual images, and the user 202 views such visualimages. Moreover, the user 202 operates the input devices 206 in orderto output information to the computer 204, and the computer 204 receivessuch information from the input devices 206. Also, in response tosignals from the computer 204, the print device 210 prints visual imageson paper, and the user 202 views such visual images.

The input devices 206 include, for example, a conventional electronickeyboard and a pointing device such as a conventional electronic“mouse,” rollerball or light pen. The user 202 operates the keyboard tooutput alphanumeric text information to the computer 204, and thecomputer 204 receives such alphanumeric text information from thekeyboard. The user 202 operates the pointing device to outputcursor-control information to the computer 204, and the computer 204receives such cursor-control information from the pointing device.

The client 102's IHS and the server 108's IHS execute one or morerespective processes for performing the operations describedhereinbelow. For example, by executing the one or more processes, thesystem permits a user to share information about one or more websites(e.g., Internet sites or intranet sites) with one or more other users(e.g., by sharing information from such websites, or by sharinghyperlinks to such websites). Also, the system synchronizes amongmultiple IHSs, a stored list of user-designated hyperlinks that point tothe user's favorite websites.

In response to a user selection, the server creates a user account forpermitting the user to authenticate (e.g., “login”) to the server fromthe client. After authenticating, the client enables its user to operatethe system in various ways, including (a) creating a “public” folder towhich the user can publish websites accessible by another usersubscribed to the folder, (b) searching and/or browsing for one or morepublic folders and subscribing to such folders, (c) creating a “group”folder, to which an invited user is capable of publishing, and (d)sending a webpage's address (e.g., “link”) to one or more other users.In response to receiving a user command for sending a link, the clientoutputs the link to a specified location (e.g., the receiving user'sinbox). If the receiving user does not have an account with the server,then such user is a non-subscribing (e.g., unregistered) user, theclient outputs the link in a suitable format (e.g., text or hyper textmarkup language (“HTML”)) to the receiving user's IHS via a suitabletechnique (e.g., electronic mail (“e-mail”)).

The system is capable of maintaining one or more folders, including alist of user preferred websites (e.g., “favorites”). The system is alsocapable of synchronizing the list among multiple IHSs of the user.Moreover, similar to maintaining the list of preferred websites, thesystem is operable to maintain a list of synchronized “contacts.” Thelist of contacts is used in connection with the user transmitting anitem (e.g., a link) of information to another user, or the userrequesting (e.g., “inviting”) another user to subscribe to a folder.

In response to the user authenticating to the server, the serverexecutes one or more processes in connection with the operationsdescribed hereinabove. In response to the user failing to authenticateto the server, the server selectively directs the user to a previouslydetermined website or executes a server specific process for performingone or more previously determined operations.

In the illustrative embodiment, the client executes a process forperforming the search and/or browsing for one or more public folders.However, in another embodiment, the server executes the process.

In the illustrative embodiment, the client or the server is operable todeletes an item of information that is older than a previouslydetermined period, or to receive a user selection for deleting an itemof information older than a previously determined period. A number ofitems in a folder is also limitable by the client or the server.

FIG. 3 a is an illustration of a visual image (e.g., “screen” orwindow), indicated generally at 300, displayed by a display device(e.g., display device 208) of the client. The screen 300 is a“registration” screen, for receiving a user's information (e.g., e-mailaddress, password) associated with the user's account. For example,screen 300 of FIG. 3 a includes various fields for receiving user'se-mail address, password, and an indication of whether the user usesmultiple IHSs.

In the following discussion, the client performs various operations inresponse to the client's execution of a software application. Thesoftware application is installed at the client for operation with theclient's web browser application. In an alternative embodiment, thesoftware application is installed at least partly (and, in one example,completely) at the server for operation with the client's web browserapplication, according to HTML or dynamic HTML (“DHTML”) codes.

FIGS. 3 b-e are illustrations of subsequent screens indicated generallyat 300. Each of the screen 300 of FIGS. 3 b-e is for receiving variousother information associated with the user's registration, including oneor more user selections regarding synchronization, sharing links withnon-subscribing users, and inviting other users to subscribe.

FIGS. 4 a-i are successive illustrations of another screen, indicatedgenerally at 400, displayed by the display device of the client. Thescreen is a “folder” screen for specifying and displaying informationabout one or more folders associated with sharing. For example withineach of the screens 400 of FIGS. 4 a-i, the user is able to specify afolder's type, name, category, keywords, and description. Also, user isable to specify an initial list of users who are invited to subscribe tothe folder.

FIG. 5 a is an illustration of a screen, indicated generally at 500. Thescreen 500 is displayed as a web browser window by the display device ofthe client, in response to the client's execution of plug-in software(discussed further hereinbelow) in association with web browsersoftware. Accordingly, the web browser window includes a web browserregion, shown in a right lower window “pane,” for displaying content ofa website (e.g., content of a webpage that is part of the website).Also, the web browser window includes folders 510 (e.g., folders ofFIGS. 4 a-i), shown in a left window pane. Further, the web browserwindow includes a content of a selected folder, shown in a right upperwindow pane.

FIG. 5 b is a more detailed illustration of the left window pane of FIG.5 a. The left window pane includes the folders 510 of various types suchas incoming links, favorites, shared folders, and links shared by a userof the client. In alternative embodiments, the left window pane isseparate from the web browser window of FIG. 5 a or operates accordingto HTML or DHTML codes.

FIGS. 6 a-d are successive illustrations of another screen, indicatedgenerally at 600, displayed by the display device of the client. Thescreen is a “share” screen for receiving information about one or moreother users associated with sharing. In each of the screen 600 of FIGS.6 a-d, the user is able to specify various information, including one ormore resources (e.g., group folders, public folders, links) to beshared, one or more users with whom the resources are to be shared, anda text that is sent in association with the resources.

In response to receiving information (e.g., e-mail address) associatedwith a user registration, the client executes a process for creating anaccount for the user. In one embodiment, such user selection is receivedin response to the user selecting (e.g., “clicking”) an icon. In anotherembodiment, such user selection is received in response to a user makinga selection within a user dialog box.

By executing the process for registering the user, the client outputsthe screen 300 of FIGS. 3 a-e for receiving from the user, information(e.g., the user's first name, last name, e-mail address, and list ofinitial users to invite). The server uses such information in creating auser account and creating an initial list of users to invite. Also,either the server or the client validates a format of the user's e-mailaddress. In response to the server or the client failing to validate theformat of the e-mail address, the client outputs an indication of anerror.

In response to receiving the information associated with registration,the client outputs the information to the server. Also, in response tothe client failing to output the information to the server, the clientoutputs to a display device, an indication that the client failed tocommunicate with the server. In response to the client successfullyoutputting the information to the server and the server creating anaccount of the user, the client outputs to a display device, a such anindication. In another situation, if the client, after outputting theinformation, receives an indication from the server that a requestedaccount already exists, the client also outputs such an indication.

After creating the user's account, the server transmits an e-mailmessage, including the user's password to the user's e-mail address. Inone embodiment, the server authenticates the user in response to ane-mail address and a password manually entered by the user. In anotherembodiment, the server authenticates the user in response to apreviously stored e-mail address and password of the user. The systemautomatically initiates the authentication operation, in response toreceiving a user command to execute a process (e.g., computer program)for performing the various operations disclosed hereinabove. In bothembodiments, in response to the client failing to perform theauthentication, the client outputs one or more indications of error.Such errors include receiving an unrecognizable e-mail address and/orpassword, not being able to communicate with the server, and/orreceiving an unexpected response from the server.

A subscribing (e.g., registered) user is able to selectively modify thee-mail address of record for the user's account. Modifying an e-mailaddress is sometimes suitable, for example, for a user whose e-mailaddress has changed. For performing the operation to change a user'se-mail address, the client displays a “change e-mail address wizard”screen. The system 100 permits any single user to create and maintainmultiple coexisting e-mail addresses, which are useful for the samepurpose or different purposes, according to the user's preferences.

In one embodiment, a screen (e.g., the screen 300) displayed by theclient's display device includes a “general” tab. A portion of the tabis presentable for receiving a user selection for creating an account,and/or modifying the user's password. The client is also operable toautomatically initiate a user authentication in response to execution ofa computer program.

In the discussions hereinbelow, references to folders include referencesto folders of FIGS. 4 a-i, FIG. 5 a, and FIG. 5 b. As discussedelsewhere herein, the server and/or the client is capable of storinguser sharable items, including web links, searches, and/or feeds. Anexample feed is an RSS feed, such as: (a) a resource descriptionframework (“RDF”) site summary feed; (b) a rich site summary feed; or(c) a really simple syndication feed. The server and/or the clientorganizes such items in one or more “folders.”

Example types of folders include “outgoing,” “incoming,” “public,” and“group.” Outgoing folders maintain one or more lists of itemstransmitted to other users. Incoming folders maintain one or more listsof received items that are shared with other users.

Public folders are available to the public and searchable by one or moreusers for their subscription. Public folders also include one or morelinks shared by the user with one or more other users. With a publicfolder that is created by a user, the client enables its user to performvarious operations, including modifying the folder and inviting anotheruser to subscribe to the folder. With a public folder that is notcreated by a user (e.g., the folder is created by another user), theclient enables its user to access items in the folder, but otheroperations are achievable less readily.

A group folder includes items shared among two or more users as a group.A creator of a group folder is able to modify the folder's properties,however, other users are unable to perform such operations. However,both types of users are able to create items in the folder and inviteone or more other user to subscribe to the folder.

A personal folder includes items that are synchronized among the user'stwo or more client IHSs. A favorites folder is a system level folderthat is also a personal folder. By writing items of information (e.g., auser's favorite items) to a computer-readable medium, the server stores(e.g., saves) the items (e.g., links to web sites, feeds, and/or searchresults). Each of a user's favorite items is associated with one or moreproperties, including, the item's name, the item's source information(e.g., uniform resource locator (“URL”)), and a comment about the item.In the illustrative embodiment, the list of a user's favorite items isstorable on the storage device of the server. However, in anotherembodiment, the items are also storable on the client.

A “favorites” tab is associated with a system-level favorites folder,and the client enables its user to create a personal folder within thefavorites system folder. A favorites folder is presentable in a firstarea of a screen (e.g., shortcut window pane). The shortcut window paneincludes a first section and a second section. The first sectionincludes information associated with organization of the items. Forexample the, first section includes information about directorystructure (e.g., name of the directory and number of levels). The secondsection includes menu items for receiving user selections of adding anitem to the folder, adding a new folder, or for receiving help.

A second region of the screen (e.g., left window pane) is presentable tothe user for receiving a user selection by suitable user inputtechniques. For example, in response to the user “clicking” an item bypressing a left button of a mouse, the client displays the item in athird region of the screen (e.g. right window pane). In response to theuser “clicking” the folder, a status of the folder toggles between“open” and “closed.”

With an input device (e.g., a mouse), the client enables its user to“drag and drop” items from, into, and/or between folders (e.g., drag anddrop content into a folder from a webpage or website of the screen 500).Also, in response to the user dragging an item into a folder, the clientdisplays a dialog box for adding an item to the favorites folder.

In the illustrative embodiment, the client displays a menu in responseto a user's “right button click” of an input device (e.g., a mouse),such as a user's “right button click” while the mouse's associatedcursor is positioned over a user-selected portion of the webpage orwebsite of the screen 500. The menu includes “add a favorite” item,which if selected by the user, displays a dialog box for adding an item(e.g., an item enclosed within the user-selected portion of the webpageor website of the screen 500) to the favorites folder. The menu alsoincludes “share” item for displaying a dialog box (e.g., a dialog box ofthe screen 600) for receiving user selections associated with sharingitems. Moreover, the menu includes delete selection, for deleting anitem, and properties selection for displaying a dialog box fordisplaying properties of an item.

In the illustrative embodiment, a “button” is presentable to a user aspart of a “toolbar” of a web browser (e.g., the Internet Explorer). Inresponse to the user clicking the button, the client displays a dialogbox for adding, modifying, and/or deleting items from a folder. Theclient enables its user to perform various operations, includingspecifying a comment, using the input device to drag and drop an iteminto a folder, and adding a new folder.

The dialog box includes one or more fields for receiving, from a user,information associated with adding an item to a favorites folder,including a name of an item, a URL of the item, and a comment about theitem. In response to the client failing to perform an add operation, theclient outputs an indication of such an error. In one example, theindication includes a text message displayed on a display such as“failed to add folder, please try again.”

Also, the dialog box is for receiving information associated with addinga new folder. The client enables its user to add a folder by selecting a“task” icon or by a “right button click.” The system sets a context to“root” if the user command is received via the “task” icon. Conversely,if user executes a command by a “right button click,” the server setsthe context to the folder which the user has “clicked.” The dialog boxdisplays information about the context. In response to failing to add afolder, the client outputs an indication of error.

The server stores one or more shared items in its hard disk. During itsoperation, the client stores the relevant shared items (stored on theserver) in its volatile memory. In an alternative embodiment, the clientstores the one or more shared items in its hard disk.

One or more shared items are presentable in a “short cut” window panenamed “sharing.” In presenting the shared items, the client uses leftand right window panes. In the left window pane, the short cut includestwo sections, namely a tree control section and a task section. The treecontrol section includes one ore more sharing folders. The sharingfolders are “virtual” folders for storing public and group folders thatthe user has created, or to which the user is subscribed. Shared itemsare stored in folders.

The tree control section includes incoming and outgoing folders. Theclient displays a name of each of the folders. Also, the client displaysa distinct icon for the various folders of different types.

The task section includes a menu item for adding a folder. In responseto a user selecting the menu item, the client displays a dialog box. Thesection also includes a menu item for finding one or more publicfolders, managing (e.g., add, modify, delete) contacts, inviting otherusers, and for accessing a help document.

In the left window pane, the client enables its user to use an inputdevice for making a user selection by suitable input techniques,including “clicking,” “dragging and dropping,” and “right buttonclicking.” In response to a user clicking a folder in the left windowpane, the client displays the contents of a folder on a right windowpane. In response to a user dragging an item into a folder, the clientdisplaying a dialog box for sharing the item in association with thefolder. By clicking a right button of a mouse, a user is able to add afolder, invite another user to subscribe to the folder, delete a folder,and/or view properties of the folder or an item therein.

The right window pane includes a “list view” and a “preview browser.” Inresponse to a user clicking a folder in the list view, the clientdisplays a list of items and in response, also to the folder's type. Forexample, types of the items includes incoming, outgoing, andpublic/group. The incoming and outgoing items include a received date, afrom field, and a title. The public/group item includes an added date, atitle, and a comment.

By clicking on an item in the list view, the client displays a targetURL in the preview browser. One or more functions of the preview browserare substantially similar for RSS feed items.

The right window pane includes an icon (e.g., “share” icon) on a toolbarof the preview browser. In response to a user clicking the icon, theclient displays a “share” dialog box associated with the item selectedfor display by the user. In another embodiment, the icon is displayed ina toolbar of web browser software. In both embodiments, the icon isselectable by the user in response to the web browser program pointingto a resource that is not stored by the hard disk of the client.

An “add a folder” dialog box is presentable to the user for receiving auser selection to add a new folder. In the illustrative embodiment, inresponse to receiving a user command to add a folder, the system createsa folder at a root level of a directory. Via the dialog box, the clientreceives information, including a type (e.g., public or group) of afolder designated for creation. For a public folder, the client or theserver receives and stores information, including a name, a category,keywords, and a description. For a group folder, the client or theserver receives and stores its respectively associated information,including a name, and a description.

For an either type of folder, the client enables its user to invite oneor more users to share items within the folder (e.g., by subscribing tothe folder). The user specifies such “target” user by outputting theusers' e-mail address to the client. In response to receiving anincorrectly formatted e-mail address, the client is capable ofoutputting an indication of error. In response to the client failing toperform an operation to add a folder, the client outputs to a displaydevice, an indication of error.

For inviting one or more other users, the client displays the “share”dialog box. Via the share dialog box, the user specifies a user who isinvited to share or subscribe to a folder or an item. For each item tobe shared, the user is able to specify, a title, a URL, and adescription. The share dialog box also includes a share button,selectable by the user to initiate the sharing. In response to theclient and/or server failing to perform the share operation, the userreceives a message indicating an error.

For managing one or more contacts (e.g., contacts with whom the clientenables its user to share items), the client displays a “managecontacts” dialog box. Via the manage contacts dialog box, the user adds,deletes, and/or modifies one or more users' contacts. Also via, themanage dialog box, the user outputs and the client and/or serverreceives information (e.g., e-mail address) about a contact. For eachadd, delete, or modify operation, the client displays a messageindicating an error in response to the client and/or the server failingto perform the operation. The client and/or the sever is/are capable ofmanage contacts by organizing the contacts into groups, and also byreferring to each contact by the contact's alias.

For a group folder that is created by a user, the client enables itsuser to edit fields (e.g. name, description), view the folder's members(e.g., users that have access to the folder), and inviting one or moreother users. For a group folder that a user is a member of, the user isnot able to edit fields. However, the user is able to view fields as“read only” information. The user is also able to see a list of membersfor the folder. Moreover, the user is able to invite one or more otherusers to become members of the group by specifying the users' e-mailaddress. The client and/or the server is/are capable of validating ane-mail address for format of the e-mail.

With a public folder, into which, a user publishes, the user is able tomodify one or more fields (e.g., name, category, keywords, description)associated with the folder. The user is also able to invite other usersto subscribe to the folder. However, the system is capable of preventingthe user from viewing the members of the folder.

For a public folder, for which a user is merely a subscriber, the useris able to view one or more fields associated with the folder. Also, theuser is able to invite one or more other users. For both types of publicfolders, a user invites one or more other users by specifying the users'e-mail address. The client and/or the server is/are capable ofvalidating an e-mail address's format and outputting an indication oferror in response to the e-mail address failing the validation.

For performing the operations described hereinabove, the server executesone or more processes (e.g., a sharing server). Through the sharingserver, clients share various types of web information between users,IHSs, and/or folders, in response to: (a) user commands; and/or (b)instructions of an e-mail message application or another application(e.g., client-executed application). Such web information includes oneor more excerpts (or “snippets”) of general XML-formatted information.Accordingly, the sharing server receives, identifies, stores, outputsand/or retrieves various information, in association with such sharingoperations.

The sharing server performs (and, in doing so, enables users to perform)various operations associated with items, as described hereinbelow inTable 1. TABLE 1 Example Types of Operations. Operation Description ofOperation User-to-User XML Includes a first user's sharing of links,search results, RSS feeds, and Sharing other web information with asecond user. In one embodiment, the interface includes a “drag and drop”operation. User-to-Folder Includes a user's publishing of information toa folder. The folder is XML Publishing configurable by the folder'screator, so that access is limited to specified users (e.g., named usersinvited by the folder's creator, or a class of users invited by thefolder's creator). Public Folders Includes a folder that is designated“public” by the folder's creator. Any user is capable of searching forpublic folders and subscribing to them. IHS-to-IHS web Includessynchronizing of information (e.g., lists of favorites, and RSSinformation subscription lists) between multiple IHSs. synchronization

In the illustrative embodiment, various processes for performing theoperations described hereinabove in connection with Table 1 andelsewhere herein, are executed on the server to reduce a load on aclient's resources (e.g., processor, storage device).

For example, a shared item (or “share”) is suitable for sharing inextensible markup language (“XML”) format, such as a snippet ofXML-formatted information (“XML snippet” or “XS”), which is an instanceof a shareable item. Various types of instances are describedhereinbelow in Table 2. TABLE 2 Example Types of Instances. InstanceDescription Message A message is text, which is associable with one ormore other types of instances. Link A link is a web hyperlink, which isassociable with a message. Thread A thread is a text discussion betweenmultiple users (e.g., threaded chat), which is associable with one ormore other types of instances. Bucket A bucket is a non-volatile folder,suitable for containing a message and one or more other types ofinstances. Item An item is suitable for containing a message, a link,and/or general XML- formatted information (e.g., music playlists, asstored in one or more files). Feed A feed is an RSS feed from aspecified URL. Search A search is a target search, which is attachableto a set of search results. Perch A perch is a pointer to a target. Inresponse to the perch, the system identifies any change in the target,such as by: (a) receiving a feed; (b) performing a search; or (c)otherwise reviewing information from a specified URL. In response to thechange, the system updates a “last results” set, which includes the mostrecent information from the target.

The client enables its user to have one or more shared items (“SI”).Such SIs include SIs (e.g., favorite items) that are used by the user.The client and/or server is/are capable storing such SIs forsynchronization among the user's various IHSs. Such SIs also includepointers and update flags to shared folders, to which the user issubscribed. Accordingly, number of queries is reduced, because each userneed not query a shared folder for updates. In one embodiment, the listis stored in a stack. In another embodiment, the list is stored as arecord in a database.

A shared list is a shared folder that has is not likely to bedynamically updated. A shared list is suitable for including varioustypes of SI, or for being shown as an “add-on” to a web search, or forserving as initial information for a more advanced search engine oranother process associated with sharing.

In association with the sharing server, a user is identified via one ormore e-mail addresses. The system 100 stores a user's information (e.g.,in a stack or a database record). For clarity, the following discussionreferences such stored information as user's shared items (“USIs”).

USIs incorporate folder subscriptions in the stack or the record andincludes folder update markers (discussed in more detail hereinbelow).In another embodiment, there is an independent folder subscription listfor each user.

In response to initiating a sharing of information (or “share”) to auser, the server performs the following operations. The system respondsto a request to verify that the user is subscribing (e.g., the user hasan account with the server). If the server determines that the user isnon-subscribing, the system performs the operations described hereinbelow.

For sharing with a user that is non-subscribing, the server outputs ane-mail message. The e-mail message includes information for indicatingthat such message is not an impermissible “spam” message, and forindicating an abuse-reporting procedure that is available to the user.For a user who initiates a share with a non-subscribing user, the shareoperation functions in a manner substantially similar to the shareoperation with a subscribing user. The e-mail message also includes arequest for the non-subscribing user to create an account with theserver. Moreover, the e-mail message includes share items (e.g., links,search results) in text or HTML format.

In one embodiment, according to preferences of the subscribing userand/or the server's operator, the system either: (a) notifies thesubscribing user on the first occasion when the subscribing user asksthe system to share information with a non-subscribing user; (b)notifies the subscribing user on each occasion when the subscribing userasks the system to share information with a non-subscribing user; or (c)does not notify the subscribing user on any occasion when thesubscribing user asks the system to share information with anon-subscribing user. Moreover, one version of the system asks thesubscribing user for permission before sending the e-mail message to thenon-subscribing user.

In addition to sending the shared information to a non-subscribing userin an e-mail message, the server stores the shared information, so thatsuch information is available for such user's subsequent access if suchuser becomes a subscribing user.

If the server determines that the user is a subscribing user, the serverdetermines whether the sending user is on the receiving user's “banlist” (e.g., “squelch” list). If the server determines that the sendinguser is not on the list, the message is added to the user's USI. Forsending a shared item to a group, a user has an associated groupinformation (e.g., identification (“ID”)). For example, the group ID isdetermined when the group is formed. The group ID is suitable foridentifying a list of users who are members of the group.

A user's record is suitable for maintaining a list of other users towhom the user has shared information through non-public folders anddirect sharing. The list is expandable to form a personal network.

In context of the sharing server, a folder is substantially identical tothe USI. However, there are differences. For example, a folder ismaintained separately and referenced by a unique ID. A folder is alsorepresented by a folder icon. Moreover, a folder has a functionaloverlay for alerting its subscribing users of an update. Also, a folderis capable of being made public.

A folder's access control list (“ACL”) includes a user's ID, and auser's permissions. For example, the client enables an owner user (e.g.,a user who is owner/creator of a folder) to perform all availableoperations, including transferring owner status. The client gives anadministrator user similar rights as an owner, but an administrator isprevented from modifying an owner's rights. The client enables a memberuser to publish items and invite other users with equal or lower levelsof permission. Similar to the member, the client enables a participantuser to publish and invite other users with equal or lower levels ofpermission. The client enables a spectator user to subscribe. Also, thesystem is programmable, so that a folder performs certain operationsautomatically in response to certain types of actions (e.g., add tocalendar).

An XML snippet is an XML-formatted representation of a shareable item.XML snippets have associated document type definitions (“DTDs”).However, they are treated as snippets inside of the shared server.Accordingly, as stored in the server, such XSs are “typed” (e.g., theserver identifies their type without parsing their XML-formatted tags),so that client/server XS-specific applications are more efficient andresponsive in processing such XSs. Design decisions around XSsubstantially influence other design decisions. For example, ifinformation associated with an XS is stored in a raw format in adatabase, the information requires an XML-formatted tag for writing theinformation to and reading the information from the database.

A user views a representation of an XS in the form of SIs. Moreover, auser's USI includes a list of XSs. A search's XS contains the search'sresults in structured XML format, with result-by-result markers toidentify whether (and which) results have been viewed by the user.

In designing DTDs for each SI type, descriptive tags are suitable forthe XML snippets. However, the size of the XML-formatted information iscapable of impacting system performance. For example, longer elementtags potentially take more time for the system to parse, increasingprocessor utilization and lowering response time. Such delay alsoimpacts transforms. Also, a longer element is capable of impacting anXS's size, resulting in increased use of bandwidth, storage deviceutilization, and access time.

In one embodiment, XML-formatted information is tokenized on the client,and the server executes the tokenized version. In one example,tokenizing includes reducing a tag to one character, and eliminating“<,” “>” and a tag name. In another embodiment, one character tag inconventional XML-formatted information is used. With such enhancements,the system 100 processes XML-formatted information with less overhead,so that bandwidth requirements and storage requirements of the system100 are reduced.

In the illustrative embodiment, the system displays a screen (e.g., thescreen 300) for creating or modifying a user's account. The systemdisplays the screen on the client's associated display device, inresponse to instructions executed by either the server or the client.Also, the system transmits suitable e-mail message to subscribing usersand non-subscribing users, including related information (e.g., passwordrecovery information) about their respective subscriptions to thesystem's services.

Moreover, the system is operable by a user to selectively create and/ormodify folders associated with the user's account. The system performssuch operations in response to instructions executed by either theserver or the client. In creating and/or modifying folders, the systemcreates and/or modifies suitable access control lists in response to theuser's specified preferences. The ACLs specify: (a) other users who areauthorized to access such folders; and (b) levels of permission grantedto such authorized users. For example, the ACLs are capable ofspecifying that a particular folder is a public folder. Also, the systemtransmits suitable e-mail messages (or other types of messages) forinviting such authorized users to read from, write to, and/or subscribeto such folders.

The system updates the users' information (e.g., contact information) ina variety of ways, including: (a) automatically updating at particulartimes by reading information from a particular storage device; (b)outputting messages to users, asking the users to supply updatedinformation; and (c) updating in response to a user-initiated command.

In response to an XML snippet (“XS”), the system is operable to: (a)post (e.g., send) the XS to one or more specified users, to the extentthat such posting is permitted by such users; and/or (b) post (e.g.,write) the XS for storage in one or more specified folders, to theextent that such posting is permitted by users that control such folders(e.g., as permitted by ACLs).

In an example operation, in response to a user's request (which the useroutputs to the server by suitably operating a client), the servercreates an account for the user. In creating the user's account, theserver outputs an e-mail message to the user, in order to verify theuser's e-mail address (e.g., by specifying a necessary account passwordin the text of the e-mail message). After the user's account is created,the user operates a client to output a request for connection to theserver.

In response to the request, the server authenticates (e.g., verifies anidentify of) the client and/or the client's user (e.g., by asking theuser to specify the account password). After the client connects to theserver, the client downloads updated information from the server,including: (a) items shared with the client by other clients; (b) publicfolders to which the client's user is subscribed; and (c) informationthat is updated as part of a synchronization operation, which copiesrevisions that the client's user made while previously operating adifferent client.

Such updated information is downloaded from the server to the client ona periodic basis. Also, at a suitable moment, such updated informationis downloaded from the server to the client shortly after: (a) a refreshoperation is requested by the client or the client's user; or (b) adifferent client's user specifies updated information (e.g., byspecifying a new link to be shared and/or added into a particularfolder). After the user logs off (e.g., ends a session), the server andclient perform a synchronization operation shortly thereafter at asuitable moment, so that the user's revisions are copied to the server.In an alternative embodiment, the server and client perform asynchronization operation during the session, which is especiallyhelpful if a user is operating multiple clients during concurrentsessions. If the volume of updated information is large, the updatedinformation is transferable between the server and client in a staggeredmanner.

Irrespective of whether users have subscribed to the system, asubscribing user is able to share information with non-subscribing usersand/or with other subscribing users, without experiencing a differencein the overall ease of sharing such information with them. In oneembodiment, if the subscribing user asks the system to share informationwith a non-subscribing user, the system sends the non-subscribing useran e-mail message, which: (a) contains the shared information (e.g.,hyperlinks and search results) in HTML format; and (b) invites thenon-subscribing user to become a subscribing user. For example, thesystem is able to transform XML-formatted information into readableHTML-formatted information for inclusion in the e-mail message. If thenon-subscribing user accepts the invitation and becomes a subscribinguser, the user is able to use a wider array of the system's featuresthat share information among multiple other users.

In one embodiment, according to preferences of the subscribing userand/or the server's operator, the system either: (a) notifies thesubscribing user on the first occasion when the subscribing user asksthe system to share information with a non-subscribing user; (b)notifies the subscribing user on each occasion when the subscribing userasks the system to share information with a non-subscribing user; or (c)does not notify the subscribing user on any occasion when thesubscribing user asks the system to share information with anon-subscribing user. Moreover, one version of the system asks thesubscribing user for permission before sending the e-mail message to thenon-subscribing user.

In addition to sending the shared information to a non-subscribing userin an e-mail message, the server stores the shared information, so thatsuch information is available for such user's subsequent access if suchuser becomes a subscribing user.

In the illustrative embodiment, the system processes and stores a firstuser's XML-formatted search result (or other structured information thatrelates to web pages or other activities), so that the first user(and/or any one or more second users) can subsequently view theidentical search result upon request, from the same client or differentclients. Moreover, the system marks the search results as being eitherviewed or unread (e.g., by marking any viewed search results with adifferent color). In that manner, the system tracks whether users haveactually viewed the search results, so that users may view differentportions of the search results at different times, without forgettingthe portions that have previously been viewed. Further, in sharing thesearch results, the system permits the user to readily specify that onlyviewed portions are to be shared, and/or that only unread portions areto be shared.

In one embodiment, the server and/or the client performs userauthentications in association with one or more commercially availabledirectory system (e.g., Microsoft Active Directory) or through adatabase using web services. The server and/or the client are also ableto limit connections between the server and the client, and determine anoperation to perform in response to a disconnection.

The server and/or the client perform various operations associated withqueries. For example, the server and/or the client are able to limit ordelay a client's number of requests, such as a client's requests forauthentication and/or updates during higher traffic periods. Moreover,the server is able to transmit a notification of new updates to theclient by a directory system and/or by using multiple IHSs.

In one embodiment, the server performs its operations in associationwith a file system for scalability, to reduce conversion ofXML-formatted information on the server. Also, the server performsoperations using extended hyper text mark up language (“XHTML”) to forma user and/or folder's record. In such an embodiment, the server usesdatabase to maintain states and statistics.

Also, the server is capable of using conventional search enginetechniques for indexing files of the file system. By creating aninternal web rendering, files become searchable. Moreover, the server insuch an embodiment is capable of using web statistics engines formonitoring an application server.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a database table of the system of FIG. 1.In the illustrative embodiment, the server performs its variousoperations in association with a database, such as the database table ofFIG. 7. In another embodiment, the server performs its variousoperations in association with both a file system and a database.

The database table of FIG. 7 stores the users' respective information,folders and other related information (e.g., permission information). Byusing such a table, the system 100 is implemented and managed with moreease, but perhaps with less scalability and overall speed, in comparisonto using a file system.

In an alternative embodiment, the system 100 performs its variousoperations in association with a stack, instead of a database table. Forexample, in such an alternative embodiment, if a user designates an itemto be shared with a different user, the item is stored in the differentuser's stack. Information stored in the stack is sequential.Accordingly, in response to the different user's subsequentauthentication, information is received (e.g., downloaded) by thedifferent user's IHS (e.g., information that was stored in the stackafter a previous check point).

If an item to be shared is in a folder, the item is stored in thefolder's stack. In response, the folder's stack stores the item in atarget user's stack. In response, the client receives the item from thefolder. However, if a folder is public, the client performs periodicqueries to determine whether updated items are available.

For example, if a user subscribes to a new folder, the client enablesits user to make a request for prospective new items, the new items inaddition to a set of previous items, or all items (e.g., the entirestack). In one example, a user stack includes seven items. If the clienthas already received items up to item 4, and requests for an update, theserver outputs items 5 through 7 from the stack. If an item (e.g., item6) is a folder update alert, the client transmits a request to theserver for an update on the folder associated with item 6.

A user's stack, including a list of “shared favorites,” operates in amanner substantially similar to the user's “share” stack. For example ifa user authenticates to the server using a first client IHS, and theuser creates a list of favorites including four (4) items, the stack onthe server includes information associated with the four (4) items.Subsequently, in response to the server authenticating the user from asecond client IHS, the second client IHS receives the four (4) items inthe stack. If in addition, the user adds two more favorite items anddeletes one of the 4 previous items (e.g., item 4), the server storesthe two new items in the stack locations 5 and 6. In the stack location7, the server stores an indication that the item 4 is deleted.Accordingly, in response to the server authenticating the user from thefirst client IHS, the first client IHS receives from the server, the newitems in 5 and 6, and deletes the item 4 as indicated in the stacklocation 7. In response to the server determining that the all clientIHSs of the user reflect the information stored in the stack, the serverdeletes the items 4 and 7 (e.g., add/delete pair) from the stack.

For searching a company's website, the company is able to installenterprise search software on its information handling system. Likewise,the company is able to install a web services software package on itsinformation handling system. In response to one or more web servicescalls from other information handling systems (“calling systems”) thatare remotely connected to the company's website through the network 110(e.g., web services calls from one or more other websites), thecompany's information handling system (according to instructions of theweb services software) automatically searches the company's website andoutputs the search results to the calling system(s). By processing webservices calls in that manner, the company's website does not require amanual entry (and manual initiation) of search queries via an HTML webbrowser.

In the illustrative embodiment, the representative client 102 executesweb browser plug-in software (“plug-in”) for performing the variousclient operations discussed hereinabove. Initially, the client downloads(e.g., receives) the plug-in software from a server (e.g., the server ofserver 108) through network 110 (e.g., in response to a command from auser, after the client's web browser accesses a particular webpage).After downloading the plug-in software, the client installs the plug-insoftware in association with web browser software (“web browser”), sothat the plug-in software interoperates with the web browser to enhancethe web browser's resource sharing operations.

Various web browsers are available for accessing the Internet from acomputer system, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer® (“IE”) browser,Netscape's Netscape® browser and America Online's AOL® browser. Theseweb browsers are suitable for operation with plug-ins, in order toenhance such operations. The plug-ins are packaged in a manner thataccommodates specifications for a particular web browser.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer® (browser implements plug-ins as ActiveXcontrols. The Netscape® browser refers to plug-ins as Netscape plug-ins.The AOL® browser implements plug-ins as either ActiveX controls (forolder versions of the browser) or as Netscape plug-ins (for newerversions of the browser).

With ActiveX controls, the user interacts with a single dialog window toaccept and install the plug-in. With Netscape plug-ins, the userinteracts with one or more dialog windows to accept and install theplug-in, according to various installation routines. For both ActiveXcontrols and Netscape plug-ins, after a plug-in is downloaded andinstalled, the client activates the plug-in automatically (e.g.,automatically caches and executes the plug-in), in response to the webbrowser accessing a particular web site (e.g., the web site from whichthe plug-in was initially downloaded).

Accordingly, with reference to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, and with reference tothe discussion of other FIGS. hereinabove, the plug-in is a computerprogram processable by the client's IHS for causing the client's IHS to:(a) on a display device, within at least one web browser window,displaying a result of a search by a website in response to a searchterm query specified by a user, and displaying a list of folders; (b) onthe display device, within the web browser window, highlight at least aportion of the displayed result of the search by the website; and (c) inresponse to a command from the user via the web browser window, save thehighlighted portion in a folder that is selected by the user from amongthe displayed list of folders. In the illustrative embodiment, the useris a first user, and in response to a command from the first user, theIHS (in response to the computer program) selectively enables access tothe selected folder by one or more second users specified by the firstuser.

In one example, the displayed result of the search is a result of asearch of the website itself (e.g., the IHS outputs a web services callto the website, and the website performs the search in response to theweb services call and outputs the result of the search to the IHS). Inanother example, the displayed result of the search is a result of asearch of one or more other websites, such as an example in which: (a)the website is a first website, which performs the search by outputtinga web services call to a second website; and (b) the second websiteperforms the search in response to the web services call and outputs theresult of the search to the first website.

In a further example, the displayed result of the search is displayed onthe display device after translation from an original result of thesearch, such as an example in which the original result has: (a) an XMLformat (e.g., a generic XML format); or (b) a non-XML format. In oneexample, the displayed result of the search is rendered directly fromthe XML format. In yet another example, the displayed result of thesearch has the non-XML format (e.g., an HTML format). In such example,the IHS (in response to the computer program) translates the displayedresult of the search from the non-XML format into an XML format, and theIHS (in response to the computer program) saves the XML-formattedinformation in the folder that is selected by the user from among thedisplayed list of folders.

Also, the illustrative embodiment includes a computer program that isprocessable by the client's IHS for causing the client's IHS to: (a) ona display device, display an excerpt of XML-formatted information, anddisplay a list of folders; (b) in response to a command from a firstuser, save the displayed excerpt of the XML-formatted information in afolder that is selected by the first user from among the displayed listof folders; and (c) in response to a command from the first user,selectively enable access to the selected folder by one or more secondusers specified by the first user. The second users is/are either: (a) asingle second user preselected by the first user; or (b) a group ofsecond users preselected by the first user. The command (from the firstuser) occurs either before or after saving the displayed excerpt.

Further, the client's IHS (in response to the computer program) isoperable to associate other information (e.g., information having anon-XML format) with the saved excerpt in the folder, so that access tothe saved excerpt includes access to the other information. Examples ofthe other information are: (a) a human-readable text message; and (b) ahyperlink to a website. In saving the displayed excerpt of theXML-formatted information, the client's IHS (in response to the computerprogram) saves the displayed excerpt in an XML format. By comparison, indisplaying the excerpt of the XML-formatted information, the client'sIHS (in response to the computer program) displays the excerpt in anon-XML format (e.g., HTML format).

Moreover, the illustrative embodiment includes a computer program thatis processable by the client's IHS for causing the client's IHS to: (a)receive an excerpt of information (e.g., an item of music); and (b) inresponse to the excerpt (e.g., in response to codes in the excerpt),perform at least one of the following operations: in an XML format,automatically storing the excerpt in a folder that is preselected by afirst user, where the folder is accessible by one or more second usersspecified by the first user; and, in the XML format, automaticallyoutputting the excerpt to one or more second users preselected by thefirst user.

In one example, before such translation, the excerpt has a non-XMLformat (e.g., specific to the configuration of the IHS), and thecomputer program is processable by the client's IHS for causing theclient's IHS to: in response to the excerpt, automatically translate theexcerpt from the non-XML format into the XML format, so that thetranslated excerpt is compatible for operation with another IHS of atleast one of the second users. In a different example, before suchtranslation, the excerpt has an alternate XML format (e.g., specific tothe configuration of the IHS), and the computer program is processableby the client's IHS for causing the client's IHS to: in response to theexcerpt, automatically translate the excerpt from the alternate XMLformat into a generic XML format (e.g., platform independent and notspecific to the configuration of the IHS), so that the translatedexcerpt is compatible for operation with another IHS of at least one ofthe second users. In such examples, the stored excerpt is the translatedexcerpt, and the output excerpt is the translated excerpt.

Additionally, the illustrative embodiment includes a computer programthat is processable by the client's IHS for causing the client's IHS to:(a) receive an excerpt of information; and (b) in response to aconfiguration of the IHS (e.g., as specified by one or more files of theIHS), perform at least one of the following operations: automaticallytranslating the excerpt from an XML format into a non-XML format, sothat the translated excerpt is compatible for operation with the IHS;and automatically translating the excerpt into an alternate XML format,so that the translated excerpt is compatible for operation with the IHS.In one example, before such translation, the excerpt has a generic XMLformat (e.g., platform independent and not specific to the configurationof the IHS), so that the IHS (in response to the computer program)automatically translates the excerpt from the generic XML format intoeither: (a) the alternate XML format (e.g., specific to theconfiguration of the IHS); or (b) the non-XML format (e.g., specific tothe configuration of the IHS).

In this manner, multiple users are equipped to share XML-formattedinformation with one another. According to one example, in response to auser's suitable commands (e.g., a command to share XML-formattedinformation with other clients), the user's respective client: (a)automatically translates XML-formatted information from the alternateXML format (or the non-XML format) into a generic XML format; and (b)shares the generic XML-formatted information with other clients (e.g.,by outputting the generic XML-formatted information to the sharingserver). Likewise, in response to the user's suitable commands (e.g., acommand to receive XML-formatted information that is shared from otherclients), the user's respective client receives and automaticallytranslates the shared XML-formatted information from the generic XMLformat into one or more alternate XML formats and non-XML formats,according to such client's respective configuration, so that thetranslated information is compatible for operation with such client. Forexample, if the shared XML-formatted information is a music playlist inthe generic XML format, yet a user's client is primarily configured toplay a Windows Media Player-formatted playlist, the user's client isprogrammed to automatically translate the XML-formatted playlist fromthe generic XML format into a Windows Media Player-formatted playlist,so that the translated playlist is compatible for operation with theuser's client.

Moreover, the illustrative embodiment includes a computer program thatis processable by a first IHS of a user, for causing the first IHS to:(a) receive an excerpt of information associated with the user; (b) inresponse to the excerpt, automatically translate the excerpt into an XMLformat, so that the translated excerpt is compatible for operation witha second IHS of the user; and (c) synchronize the translated excerptwith the second IHS. In one example, before such translation, theexcerpt has a non-XML format (e.g., specific to the configuration of thefirst IHS), so that the first IHS (in response to the computer program)automatically translates the excerpt from the non-XML format into theXML format, so that the translated excerpt is compatible for operationwith the second IHS. In a different example, before such translation,the excerpt has an alternate XML format (e.g., specific to theconfiguration of the IHS), so that the first IHS (in response to thecomputer program) automatically translates the excerpt from thealternate XML format into a generic XML format (e.g., platformindependent and not specific to the configuration of the IHS), so thatthe translated excerpt is compatible for operation with the second IHS.For example, if the user commands the first IHS to save theXML-formatted excerpt in a “personal” folder of the user (e.g., a folderthat is privately accessed by the user), yet the user has multiple IHSs(e.g., systems in remote locations), the system 100 synchronizes thetranslated excerpt with the second IHS (and across other IHSs of theuser) in XML format (e.g., RSS). Such a personal folder is suitable forsaving user-specified XML-formatted excerpts of: (a) websites (e.g., theuser's “favorites” list); (b) search queries; (c) search results; and(d) music items (e.g., playlists).

Referring again to FIG. 2, the computer-readable medium 212 is a floppydiskette. The computer-readable medium 212 and the computer 204 arestructurally and functionally interrelated with one another as describedfurther hereinbelow. Each IHS of the illustrative embodiment isstructurally and functionally interrelated with a respectivecomputer-readable medium, similar to the manner in which the computer204 is structurally and functionally interrelated with thecomputer-readable medium 212. In that regard, the computer-readablemedium 212 is a representative one of such computer-readable media,including for example but not limited to the storage device 211.

The computer-readable medium 212 stores (e.g., encodes, or records, orembodies) functional descriptive material (e.g., including but notlimited to software (also referred to as computer programs orapplications) and data structures). Such functional descriptive materialimparts functionality when encoded on the computer-readable medium 212.Also, such functional descriptive material is structurally andfunctionally interrelated to the computer-readable medium 212.

Within such functional descriptive material, data structures definestructural and functional interrelationships between such datastructures and the computer-readable medium 212 (and other aspects ofthe computer 204, the IHS 200 and the system 100). Suchinterrelationships permit the data structures' functionality to berealized. Also, within such functional descriptive material, computerprograms define structural and functional interrelationships betweensuch computer programs and the computer-readable medium 212 (and otheraspects of the computer 204, the IHS 200 and the system 100). Suchinterrelationships permit the computer programs' functionality to berealized.

For example, the computer 204 reads (e.g., accesses or copies) suchfunctional descriptive material from the computer-readable medium 212into the memory device of the computer 204, and the computer 204performs its operations (as described elsewhere herein) in response tosuch material which is stored in the memory device of the computer 204.More particularly, the computer 204 performs the operation of processinga computer application (that is stored, encoded, recorded or embodied ona computer-readable medium) for causing the computer 204 to performadditional operations (as described elsewhere herein). Accordingly, suchfunctional descriptive material exhibits a functional interrelationshipwith the way in which computer 204 executes its processes and performsits operations.

Further, the computer-readable medium 212 is an apparatus from which thecomputer application is accessible by the computer 204, and the computerapplication is processable by the computer 204 for causing the computer204 to perform such additional operations. In addition to reading suchfunctional descriptive material from the computer-readable medium 212,the computer 204 is capable of reading such functional descriptivematerial from (or through) the network 112 which is also acomputer-readable medium (or apparatus). Moreover, the memory device ofthe computer 204 is itself a computer-readable medium (or apparatus).

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a widerange of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in theforegoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of theembodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures.

1. A method performed by at least one information handling system, themethod comprising: receiving an excerpt of information; and in responseto the excerpt, performing at least one of the following operations: inan XML format, automatically storing the excerpt in a folder that ispreselected by a first user, wherein the folder is accessible by one ormore second users specified by the first user; and, in the XML format,automatically outputting the excerpt to one or more second userspreselected by the first user.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theinformation handling system is a first information handling system,wherein the excerpt has a non-XML format, and comprising: in response tothe excerpt, automatically translating the excerpt from the non-XMLformat into the XML format, so that the translated excerpt is compatiblefor operation with a second information handling system of at least oneof the second users.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storedexcerpt is the translated excerpt.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein theoutput excerpt is the translated excerpt.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the information handling system is a first information handlingsystem, wherein the excerpt has an alternate XML format, and comprising:in response to the excerpt, automatically translating the excerpt fromthe alternate XML format into a generic XML format, so that thetranslated excerpt is compatible for operation with a second informationhandling system of at least one of the second users.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the stored excerpt is the translated excerpt.
 7. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the output excerpt is the translated excerpt.8. A system, comprising: at least one information handling system for:receiving an excerpt of information; and in response to the excerpt,performing at least one of the following operations: in an XML format,automatically storing the excerpt in a folder that is preselected by afirst user, wherein the folder is accessible by one or more second usersspecified by the first user; and, in the XML format, automaticallyoutputting the excerpt to one or more second users preselected by thefirst user.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the information handlingsystem is a first information handling system, wherein the excerpt has anon-XML format, and wherein the first information handling system isfor: in response to the excerpt, automatically translating the excerptfrom the non-XML format into the XML format, so that the translatedexcerpt is compatible for operation with a second information handlingsystem of at least one of the second users.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein the stored excerpt is the translated excerpt.
 11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the output excerpt is the translated excerpt.
 12. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the information handling system is a firstinformation handling system, wherein the excerpt has an alternate XMLformat, and wherein the first information handling system is for: inresponse to the excerpt, automatically translating the excerpt from thealternate XML format into a generic XML format, so that the translatedexcerpt is compatible for operation with a second information handlingsystem of at least one of the second users.
 13. The system of claim 12,wherein the stored excerpt is the translated excerpt.
 14. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the output excerpt is the translated excerpt.
 15. Acomputer program product, comprising: at least one computer programprocessable by at least one information handling system for causing theinformation handling system to: receive an excerpt of information; andin response to the excerpt, perform at least one of the followingoperations: in an XML format, automatically store the excerpt in afolder that is preselected by a first user, wherein the folder isaccessible by one or more second users specified by the first user; and,in the XML format, automatically output the excerpt to one or moresecond users preselected by the first user; and apparatus from which thecomputer program is accessible by the information handling system. 16.The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the informationhandling system is a first information handling system, wherein theexcerpt has a non-XML format, and wherein the computer program isprocessable by the information handling system for causing theinformation handling system to: in response to the excerpt,automatically translate the excerpt from the non-XML format into the XMLformat, so that the translated excerpt is compatible for operation witha second information handling system of at least one of the secondusers.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the storedexcerpt is the translated excerpt.
 18. The computer program product ofclaim 16, wherein the output excerpt is the translated excerpt.
 19. Thecomputer program product of claim 15, wherein the information handlingsystem is a first information handling system, wherein the excerpt hasan alternate XML format, and wherein the computer program is processableby the information handling system for causing the information handlingsystem to: in response to the excerpt, automatically translate theexcerpt from the alternate XML format into a generic XML format, so thatthe translated excerpt is compatible for operation with a secondinformation handling system of at least one of the second users.
 20. Thecomputer program product of claim 19, wherein the stored excerpt is thetranslated excerpt.
 21. The computer program product of claim 19,wherein the output excerpt is the translated excerpt.